Louisville @ Kentucky Game Thread.

[George]

Realistically I would like to give Stoops another two seasons. Now, that is unless we don't win at least seven next season. But, give him two more years and if he isn't at that nine win mark then we need to offer the entire state to PJ Fleck.

Now you're talking.

For those of you wondering why I continue to mention Leach, it's simple: no, he isn't a savior, but he'd have been (and could still be) a realistic option for us, and he's proven himself capable of performing at a higher level than Stoops. That's really all there is to it. I know there are better coaches out there, but I think he's better than Stoops and would have taken the job.

But back to Fleck. I love that guy. If there was any chance he'd have taken the job five years ago and we didn't bother to try, then I don't want to know about it.

[Matt Dillon]

But they would leave.

That would depend on who we hired. Also, depending on who we hired, some of them would probably be told to leave.

[George]

There must have been a big gust on that missed screen pass that would've been a walk in touchdown. That wind can be brutal on those seven yard passes.

I guess the wind messed with Jones' head, too.

[catfaninin]

Unless Barnhart could catch lightening in a bottle. I'd say, with the players we have now, there are coaches that could come in and make the team instantly better.

Sure there are. There's always someone better. But I doubt strongly that any coach who could make that much improvement would take the job. I don't think Mullen or Strong would consider it. Wouldn't take Leach over Stoops. And what says the players we have would stay if there were a change made?

[George]

Now we are speaking the same language. He is by no means perfect and I think his ceiling (with this staff) is eight or nine wins a year with the occasional upset of a top 15 team. If we got a legit DC that might go up some. What he needs is a mentor hanging around the program. You would think he would be able to reach out to his brothers, especially Bob, and say "Hey, how should I fix this?" I know he's learned this whole thing on the fly, and he's done a decent job of bringing the program to (almost) what it should be, but he's still making the mistakes he made year one and two. Realistically we are two blown coverages and an exceptional throw and catch away from 9-3.

FWIW, I think he's building the team the way it needs to be done to compete in the SEC. From the inside out. It really hurt losing Tubman, Hatcher, Meant, and having Elam be a bust. That stuff is fine for an established program but not for one being built. The oline depth and size is there. We have the talent at LB but zero discipline. Kash should have played more, Jones needs to keep it together, but with them, Brown, Ware, and Paschal running around that is a good group with NFL players. We have the size and depth with the DBs but zero coaching. I REALLY wish they would teach them to locate the ball.

Losing Badet, Boom, and Baker hurt. Big time. Again, for an established program it happens but for one being built? Ouch. You never expect to lose two of your top three receivers and your home run running back. I like our young receivers with Baker coming back. The TE talent is there but under utilized. Overall we have a big, strong, and somewhat deep football team.

But man oh man the coaching. I think Gran can be good enough, but I am no fan of his. Unless we need less than two yards Benny should never run the wildcat, Conrad and Bowden need more touches, and I wouldn't mind seeing less screens considering we didn't have a burner like Badet.

We are in desperate need of two things: A well known and proven DC. Make someone the highest paid DC in the country. We get that and a DB coach and I think we are easily a nine win team this year. Give me nine wins and I can take three blowouts.

I'm on board with all of this, except the first line - not because I disagree, but just because it's still up for debate. He had the chance to win nine games this season and (unfathomably) couldn't pull it off. When it's right there in your lap and you can't close, I can't help but question your ability.

I've wondered many times about conversations with brother Bob. Seems like that'd be a no-brainer, and now that he's retired I've wondered why we haven't seen him around Lexington at all, or at least heard about a conversation or two.

As for Gran, well... yeah. I agree. And I hate to get people riled up, but how bad does it suck that we didn't get Lincoln Riley when we had the chance? Look at that guy now and tell me we made the right choice. If memory serves, Mark and Bob agreed that Bob would hire whichever one Mark didn't pick. What a screw-up, if true.

[George]

Sure there are. There's always someone better. But I doubt strongly that any coach who could make that much improvement would take the job. I don't think Mullen or Strong would consider it. Wouldn't take Leach over Stoops. And what says the players we have would stay if there were a change made?

I'd take him over Stoops in an instant. He's a better coach.

[teamchemistry15]

I'm on board with all of this, except the first line - not because I disagree, but just because it's still up for debate. He had the chance to win nine games this season and (unfathomably) couldn't pull it off. When it's right there in your lap and you can't close, I can't help but question your ability.

I've wondered many times about conversations with brother Bob. Seems like that'd be a no-brainer, and now that he's retired I've wondered why we haven't seen him around Lexington at all, or at least heard about a conversation or two.

As for Gran, well... yeah. I agree. And I hate to get people riled up, but how bad does it suck that we didn't get Lincoln Riley when we had the chance? Look at that guy now and tell me we made the right choice. If memory serves, Mark and Bob agreed that Bob would hire whichever one Mark didn't pick. What a screw-up, if true.

I thought about Riley when watching his last interview. What could have been...

[George]

I thought about Riley when watching his last interview. What could have been...

It's painful, man. Dude's coaching a National Championship contender, and he could realistically be our OC right now. I realize he inherited a good team, but still.

[catfaninin]

I'm on board with all of this, except the first line - not because I disagree, but just because it's still up for debate. He had the chance to win nine games this season and (unfathomably) couldn't pull it off. When it's right there in your lap and you can't close, I can't help but question your ability.

I've wondered many times about conversations with brother Bob. Seems like that'd be a no-brainer, and now that he's retired I've wondered why we haven't seen him around Lexington at all, or at least heard about a conversation or two.

As for Gran, well... yeah. I agree. And I hate to get people riled up, but how bad does it suck that we didn't get Lincoln Riley when we had the chance? Look at that guy now and tell me we made the right choice. If memory serves, Mark and Bob agreed that Bob would hire whichever one Mark didn't pick. What a screw-up, if true.

None of that do I disagree with. But I will say that IF Bob were willing to hire Dawson that would tell me he is better than what we give him credit for. And also I have to wonder if Riley had been hired and been successful just how long he would have stayed in a coordinator position.

[George]

None of that do I disagree with. But I will say that IF Bob were willing to hire Dawson that would tell me he is better than what we give him credit for. And also I have to wonder if Riley had been hired and been successful just how long he would have stayed in a coordinator position.

I thought it was between Gran and Riley? Was it Dawson? If so, that's an even bigger fail.

As for Riley's hypothetical tenure here, I'm of the mind that a coordinator can only get bigger/better offers if his current team is succeeding. So, if we'd landed him and he were offered a better job a few years later, that'd likely mean that our offense was humming, in which case the team might be in a good place and able to replace him with another quality OC.

[catfaninin]

I'd take him over Stoops in an instant. He's a better coach.

Probably so. But the slight upgrade in coaching ability is to me not worth the baggage and antics that are Mike Leach. And if he were much of a coach he doesn't lose 37-3 to a Cal team that won all of 2 conference games.

[catfaninin]

I thought it was between Gran and Riley? Was it Dawson? If so, that's an even bigger fail.

As for Riley's hypothetical tenure here, I'm of the mind that a coordinator can only get bigger/better offers if his current team is succeeding. So, if we'd landed him and he were offered a better job a few years later, that'd likely mean that our offense was humming, in which case the team might be in a good place and able to replace him with another quality OC.

You could be right. Looks like Riley went to OU in 2015.

[George]

Probably so. But the slight upgrade in coaching ability is to me not worth the baggage and antics that are Mike Leach. And if he were much of a coach he doesn't lose 37-3 to a Cal team that won all of 2 conference games.

This is where we'll never agree.

And I get it. Guy's kind of a nut. But that's a big part of the reason why I like him.

Think about it: going back to at least Texas Tech, has there been a time when Mike Leach's name hasn't been a fixture in college football reporting? Sure, there was the ugly story about the WR in the bathroom or locker room or whatever it was (not sure that was ever confirmed - could've just as easily been whining on the part of the player/dad), but for the most part his eccentricities and quirkiness draw positive attention to his programs. He's rarely in the news for acting like a goon on the field or making boneheaded mistakes. The cameras are on him because he says some hilarious stuff, all while coaching exciting teams that win at a more consistent rate than Stoops and are often perceived as threats for the conference title. Much in the same way Oregon benefitted from the extra stuff - the jerseys, the facilities, the innovative offense - Kentucky is a team that needs something unique to garner positive attention around the program.

Leach is definitely unique.

[catfaninin]

It was Dawson that was hired instead of Riley.

Riley’s time at East Carolina drew the attention of Bob Stoops.He reportedly was on the short list of another Stoops brother in recent weeks. Kentucky’s Mark Stoops is believed to have interviewed him before hiring West Virginia’s Shannon Dawson.

[KevinHall]

The wind was a MAJOR factor in this game. SJ15 is great, but he's not the most accurate, and that wind made him off badly.

If you hadn't of broke wind so much he may have been better. It's all your fault!!!